Zelensky says Ukraine does not have clear security pledge from allies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of a new Russian aggression.

“I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is agreed.

But full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.

After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would “establish military hubs across Ukraine” to deter future invasion, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said thousands of troops may be deployed.

Allies proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are still being discussed.

Moscow has not yet commented on the announcement made in the French capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Sir Keir described the joint statement as “a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term”.

He added: “It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine’s skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces for the future.”

Zelensky hailed that agreement as a “huge step forward”.

A day later, however, he appeared less optimistic.

“I see the will, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the partners are ready to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees,” he said when asked if European countries would defend Ukraine.

“But as long as we don’t have such security guarantees – legally binding, supported by parliaments, supported by the United States Congress – this question cannot be answered. And even if they do, you still have to rely primarily on your own strength.”

The Paris talks were also notable owing to the presence of US President Donald Trump’s peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Witkoff said the allies “largely finished” their work on agreeing security protocols.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was “90% ready”.

Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.

Zelensky has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia did the same.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial Donbas region.

It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities – particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Russia has also made slow progress in capturing more Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine has hit back at Russian targets with drones, albeit with more limited success.